Developers jockey for retail spots.

Sudbury's retail scene resembles a Monopoly board with big developers strategically jockeying for position in the city's east end, south end and downtown core.

Retail development is expected in Sudbury at the corner of the Kingsway and Barrydowne Road on the hill beside Home Depot.

Trinity Development Group Inc. has acquired land for development and will begin applying for detailed approval early next year.

Part of the development will involve some extensive road construction that will allow access and exit from Marcus Drive to and from Second Avenue. Construction is expected to begin in early spring, if not sooner, says Art Welter, vice-president of development for Trinity Development Group.

"The buildings will follow sequentially in the summer for opening probably early 2005," Welter explains.

Trinity pre-leases almost all the buildings before constructing them, however, he is not at liberty to disclose the company names.

At a September CMHC conference in Greater Sudbury, Doug Nadorozny, general manager of economic development and planning services, announced Michaels, PETsMART and Linens-N-Things were possible businesses for the location.

Welter hopes to formally disclose the company's intentions to the city for two of the three sites by January 2004, with the remaining parcel of land to be submitted up to six months later. The total amount of additional space will be 200,000 square feet, with approximately two-thirds having been 100-per-cent preleased and the remaining one-third currently in negotiations.

Most project development now is lease driven.

"If you don't have the tenants, you don't go ahead," Welter says.

Patrick H. MacIsaac, owner of the Southridge Mall in Sudbury, would also consider expansion, but they have nothing concrete that can be made public.

"We certainly sense that there is a demand for additional retail in the south end, but we are not in a position to have anything firm at this time," MacIsaac explains.

"There is no sense building things where you don't have people to occupy the space and conduct business in."

Art Potvin, manager of development services for Greater Sudbury, says retail development in the area would go a long way to reduce shopping congestion and keep south end residents in the area.

MacIsaac has received approval to develop a total of 650,000 potential square feet, and has done some site preparation underway. However, Potvin says only 150,000 square feet may come to fruition in the next few years.

MacIsaac, also the owner of Sudbury Downs, BayCar Steel Fabricating Ltd. and MacIsaac Industries, has put forth an appeal, along with the Retail Wholesale and Department Store Union, to thwart a proposal that welcomes construction of a Wal-Mart approximately five kilometres south of the four corners.

Guelph, Ont. has similar issues with another potential Wal-Mart site and Potvin says he will watch how events unfold in Guelph. He expects a hearing to take place in the spring, barring any postponements.

In the centre of the city, the Rainbow Outlet Centre is having a significant turn around in occupancy.

New tenants have reversed the vacancy rate at the mall from 65 per cent vacancy rate to 65 per cent occupied with leased space and the remaining 35 per cent in active negotiations. A recent construction announcement of six new theatres in the former City Centre Cinema location will attract moviegoers with a maximum fee for tickets proposed at $4.50 per person. As well, Marketplace, a new grocery store which opened in late November, is drawing in the downtown crowd.

By KELLY LOUISEIZE

Northern Ontario Business